Science, Space and Technology News 2024
Recent research has unveiled the natural mechanisms behind ‘twister-like’ flows in egg cells, essential for efficient nutrient distribution. These findings, achieved through advanced modeling and experimental approaches, offer new insights into cellular transport and could impact broader biological research. A snapshot from a simulation of how microtubules bend and direct material in a maturing egg cell into a twister-like flow. Credit: S. Dutta et al.
Now, research led by computational scientists at the Flatiron Institute, along with collaborators at Princeton and Northwestern universities, has revealed that these flows — which look like microscopic tornados — arise organically from the interactions of a few cellular components. Their work, published in the April issue of , used theory, advanced computer modeling, and experiments with fruit fly egg cells to uncover the twisters’ mechanics.
“After it’s fertilized, the oocyte will become the future animal,” says study co-author Sayantan Dutta, a researcher at Princeton and the CCB. “If you destroy the flow in the oocyte, the resulting embryo doesn’t develop.” developed by Flatiron Institute researchers. With SkellySim, they modeled the cellular components involved in creating the twisters.
In this looping video of an oocyte cell, material can be seen circulating and helping distribute nutrients throughout the growing cell. Credit: S. Dutta et al.The models revealed that inside the oocyte, microtubules buckle under the force of the molecular motors. When a microtubule buckles or bends under this load, it causes the surrounding fluid to move, which can reorient other microtubules.
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